Embraceable Gal in winnable spot
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Five-time winner Embraceable Gal has run credibly in two starts at Aqueduct since returning to this circuit for another winter following a productive 2024 campaign at Finger Lakes.
Second and third in two starts at Aqueduct so far, Embraceable Gal seems to have found a winnable spot to clear this first-level statebred condition going seven furlongs in what serves as the feature on Friday’s modest eight-race Aqueduct card.
When running for Jonathan Buckley at Finger Lakes, Embraceable Gal won two allowance races and finished second in three others from May through November in eight starts. She began her 2024 campaign winning a $10,000 claiming race at Aqueduct for Mark Hennig last March.
Rob Atras has saddled Embraceable Gal in her two starts at the Big A this winter. On Dec. 7, Embraceable Gal, at 24-1, finished second to Al’s Ruby, who was coming off an eight-month layoff for trainer Christophe Clement. Al’s Ruby would finish third with a career-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure in her subsequent start. P Mutter Pickle and Nolita, the third- and fourth-place finishers from that Dec. 7 race, both came back to win their next starts.
Embraceable Gal finished third behind Nolita in this same condition Jan 4. In that race, Embraceable Gal came out in deep stretch and bumped with ultimate second-place finisher Arianna Rye.
“One of her issues has been the gate,” Atras said. “She broke really well last time. We’ve schooled her quite a bit. Last time she got a little rambunctious, they backed her out, reset her. She probably didn’t get the greatest trip, but she still ran well.”
Trainer Linda Rice has the uncoupled entry of Mommasgottagun and First Class Cat in this spot. Mommasgottagun hasn’t run since June 9, when she finished fourth behind Speightful Lily in this condition in the slop at Saratoga. Prior to that, Mommasgottagun won a maiden race at Aqueduct.
Rice said Mommasgottagun had some filling in a tendon sheath that prompted her to take Mommasgottagun out of training.
“She came back very well and she’s ready to go,” Rice said. “Ideally, she wants a little further, but I think it’ll work. She had a very nice breeze the other day.”
First Class Cat finished fifth in the same Dec. 7 race that Embraceable Gal was second before running second in a starter allowance on Jan. 4.
“She’s pretty good at picking up checks,” Rice said.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has the coupled entry of Chasing Daylight and Book of Wisdom in this spot. Chasing Daylight is 0 for 13 with five seconds in this condition. Book of Wisdom was claimed by Rodriguez for $16,000 on Jan. 5, when she finished third in her race.
Rounding out the field are Brooklyn Dantz, Snappin Buttons, and Valentine Gift, a winner of a $25,000 claimer two back who was fifth in the Jan. 4 race in which Embraceable Gal was third.
St. Benedicts Prep wheels back
St. Benedicts Prep, beaten a nose by Ms. Bucchero in the What a Summer Stakes last Saturday at Laurel, will wheel back to run in Saturday’s $150,000 Interborough Stakes, Rice said Wednesday.
“I’m planning on it,” Rice said. “I think she can handle it.”
Rice plans to scratch Just Music from the Interborough, run at seven furlongs.
“Too short for her,” Rice said.
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